An unusual ruthenium(II) complex of 2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazole

The ligand 2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazole (L) can act both as an N-N and an N-S chelating donor. The latter coordination mode is expected to be preferred when it is involved in coordination to Ru(II) which is a soft acceptor cent re. However, in the title compound, chlorobis(acetonitrile)triphenylphosphi no-2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazole-N,N-ruthenium(II) chloride, [Ru(L)(PPh3)(CH3C N)(2)Cl]Cl, the ligand acts in NN-bidentate manner and the Ru(II) ion is fo und to be present in an N4PCl coordination environment. PPh3 and Cl are tra ns to each other and the two CH3CN ligands occupy cis positions facing the N,N donor atoms of ligand L.